Russia has stepped upCoach Outlet Online military activity in the Pacific, including sending long-range bombers on flights off the coast of California and around the island of Guam,Coach Outlet as tensions have risen in Ukraine, a top U.S.Coach Factory Outlet Air Force general said Monday."What Russia is doing in Ukraine and Crimea has a direct effect on what's happening in the Asia Pacific," Gen.Coach Outlet Online Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle said in a presentation to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in WashingtonCoach Factory OutletThey've come with their long-range aviation off the coast of California; they circumnavigated Guam," Coach Factory OutletCarlisle said, showing a picture of a U.S.Coach Outlet Store Online F-15 fighter "intercepting" a Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bomber off the Pacific island.Guam is home to Andersen Air Force Base, which has been used by the U.S.Coach Outlet Store Online military for flights of B-2 and B-52 bombers across the Pacific.Flights around Japan Coach Outletand the Korean peninsula have also "increased drastically,"Coach Outlet as well as naval activity in that area, Carlisle said.The Russian planes have stayed in international airspace, and such flights are not unusual,Coach Handbags Outlet but the increase has U.S. commanders keeping a wary eye."Coach Outlet It's to demonstrate their capability to do it;Coach Outlet it's to gather intel" from U.S. military exercises with allies in the region,Coach Outlet Carlisle said of the reasons for the Russian activity."We relate a lot of that to what's going on in the Ukraine,"Coach Outlet Online he said.Pro-Russian separatists have taken control over swaths of Ukraine near its borders with Russia.Ukraine's government and many in the West True Religion Outletbelieve that the separatists are backed by Russia and fear that Russian President VladimirTrue Religion Jeans Putin is fomenting trouble to increase his influence in the region.Chanel Outlet OnlineUnrest has simmered in Ukraine since street protests forced out pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February.True Religion The interim government scheduled presidential elections this month,Michael Kors Outlet but pro-Russian activists in the eastern part of the country refuse to accept Kiev's authority.Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine this year after sending troops into the region.Michael Kors Outlet StoreSince the Ukraine crisis began, the U.S.Michael Kors Outlet Online and its NATO allies have moved some troops, aircraft and ships closer to the area as a signal of alliance solidarity.Michael Kors OutletThe Russian bomber flights are not unique to the Asia Pacific region. In late April,Louis Vuitton fighter jets from the Netherlands intercepted two Tu-95s that had flown a half-mile into Dutch airspace.Louis Vuitton Outlet The Dutch F-16s escorted the Russian aircraft out of Dutch airspace without incident.